Author Marvin Dunn to read untold stories of the African American experience in Florida during Flagler College talk

January 24, 2017

As part of Flagler College’s Writers-in-Residence series, author Dr. Marvin Dunn will be discussing his latest book, “A History of Florida: Through Black Eyes”, focusing on the rare images and contributions African Americans made to the development of Florida, in the Solarium on Thursday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m.

Dunn said the inspiration behind his most recent work came from “the severe lack of information about Florida black history, especially the absence of a text that covered the entire span of the black presence in Florida.”

“I want attendees to take away a new appreciation of how black people helped build this state, and to see us historically as full, participating citizens, not just as domestics and farm laborers,” he said.

Dunn earned his doctoral degree in Psychology from the University of Tennessee and went on to teach in the Department of Psychology at Florida International University for 34 years. “A History of Florida: Through Black Eyes” is his fourth publication.

In addition to being an author, teacher, and chairman of the Department of Psychology, Dunn has directed three documentary films including “Black Seminoles in the Bahamas: The Red Bays Story,” “Murder on the Suwannee River: The Willie James Howard Story” and “Rosewood Uncovered.”

The Flagler College Writers-in-Residence program has hosted a number of world-class novelists, short fiction writers, poets and playwrights in the 30-plus years of its existence. The program takes place during the fall and spring semesters of the academic year and is free and open to the public. On Feb. 9 at 7 p.m., Dunn’s reading will be held in the Solarium in Ponce Hall at Flagler College, located at 74 King St. Reservations are not required. The reading will last approximately 45 minutes with a question and answer period to follow.

If you are a person with a disability and need reasonable accommodations, please contact Lynn Francisco at (904) 819-6460. Sign language interpreters are available upon request with a minimum of three days' notice. Call (904) 826-8617 for more information, or visit here.